Reflections on life in the global village

Bonjour-Hi: Quebec politicians disgrace themselves again

A day after the Quebec Liberals said they hope to derail Ottawa’s plan to have legal pot available by July 1 because it will be just so much work for them, politicians in the Quebec legislature spent much of their time — at taxpayers’ expense — squabbling over a bilingual greeting used by some shop clerks.

The greeting is “Bonjour-Hi,” and politicians from two parties went on and on about it during question period.

The separatist Parti Québécois decried its usage, and stated that it is a sign of the increasing bilingualism in Montreal. Premier Philippe Couillard was forced to admit that he doesn’t like the term, but he doesn’t think it is quite the catastrophe the PQ does.

Meanwhile, outside the legislature, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Quebec pointed at the “immigrants,” and said they need better training in French.

And the leader of the Québec solidaire party chimed in with his disapproval.

I have two words for all of these parties — and they’re not “Happy motoring.”

This is about free speech in a democratic society, and no hysterical politicians will dictate to anyone in this province how people can greet each other.

The moral all Quebecers can draw from the ridiculous behaviour of Quebec politicians in the past two days is that none of them are worthy of our votes.